Collin Morikawa clinches Workday Charity Open after play-off
Collin Morikawa won his second PGA Tour title after claiming the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village.
Collin Morikawa clinched the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village on Sunday in what was the best end to a tournament we have seen since the PGA Tour returned.
It took three play-off holes to decide a winner in Ohio, but Morikawa found his second PGA Tour title and left Justin Thomas frustrated, who was in search for his 13th win.
Thomas became the heavy favourite when he recovered from a slow start by making four consecutive birdies from the 8th through to the 11th, before adding another at the 14th, which he followed up with an eagle at the par-5 15th.
With a three-shot lead with just three to play, it looked as though Thomas would cruise to victory, but he bogeyed 16 and and couldn't match Morikawa's birdie at 17, seeing his lead slip to one.
At the 72nd hole, Thomas found trouble off the tee, leading to his fourth dropped shot of the day and he missed his putt for par, finishing the round with a 3-under par score of 69 to end the tournament at 19-under, level with Morikawa who shot a 66 in his final round.
The first play-off hole was a display of class as Thomas holed a monster 50-foot putt for birdie, which he followed up with a huge roar of "come on" as he thought he had done enough to clinch it.
FEET!@JustinThomas34 with an UNBELIEVABLE birdie on the first playoff hole.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/T6iuNZrcxH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 12, 2020
Morikawa faced a putt half the length of Thomas' but it was still no easy shot and he read the pace spot on to creep the ball into the side of the cup and force another play-off hole.
WOW.@Collin_Morikawa with a MUST-MAKE putt to extend the playoff.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/RSYdWRI1sA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 12, 2020
Thomas had a putt to win as the two went down the 18th again but both players ended up walking away with a par, taking the play-off to a third extra hole, this time down the 10th.
Morikawa found the middle of the fairway whilst Thomas put his ball right by a small tree, making it impossible for him to hit the green in regulation.
Thomas would get on in three shots and miss his putt for par, leaving Morikawa with two putts for victory, which he had no problem in doing.
The win for Morikawa comes just under a year since his last, when he won his maiden title at the Barracuda Championship and the 23-year-old now has more PGA Tour titles (2) than missed cuts (1) since turning professional.
